My Favorite Concealers: The Best Drugstore, Super Pigmented and Multi-Use Concealers Out There

I Bought It, Product Sent for Review, Affiliate Links



I have a confession. I have a concealer problem. I own quite a few, but I seem to keep buying them. I probably have at least 20 in my "face" makeup drawer.

As many as I've tried, there are some that I seem to go back to over and over. I repurchase them, they hang out on my vanity because they don't make it back in to the drawer, and they get mixed into other products.

Read on to see my favorites.

0

The Best Drugstore Mascaras According to Beauty Bloggers

Mascara is mascara? Right? Well, not so much. There are good, bad and great mascaras. And while there are some makeup items that you should pretty much always splurge on (foundation, concealer...) Mascara is not one of them! Many of the best mascaras out there are found for under $10 at your local drugstore.

I asked some of my favorite makeup obsessed beauty blogging friends about their favorite mascaras, and their answers were amazing! Here are 13 drugstore mascaras that you should try out if you haven't already! Note that if the bloggers have posted about the mascara, I've linked to their post as well!

6

Top 10 Tuesday: The Best Drugstore Beauty Products

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Affiliate Links



You may have noticed that I post about a lot of drugstore beauty products. While I definitely make a lot more money than I did as a teen (being a doctor definitely pays better than babysitting!), at heart I'm still that 16 year old wandering the aisles, looking at $6 mascaras and $4 lip balms. I use a lot of drugstore products every day, and with improvements in technology, I swear the quality of drugstore brands has dramatically improved since I started this blog about 7 1/2 years ago.

In the past I've shared a lot of my drugstore favorites! From my favorite drugstore makeup finds, 15 drugstore highlighters, and a few weeks ago, the best drugstore skincare. I had a hard time bringing down the list to 10 of my favorite products, but I went for the products that I've repurchased the most often. Really, I should rename this list The Drugstore Beauty Products I've Bought Over and Over!



1. POND'S Luminous Finish BB+ Cream (review): Are you tired of me continually recommending this BB Cream and mentioning that I use it? No? I use it. Almost every day. It is magical.

2. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss (in Leading Lady): These CoverGirl nail polishes are pretty amazing! They come in some amazing shades and finishes, many of them only need 1 coat for full coverage. Also, did I mention the part where these polishes still look perfect on day 7? And they come out with tiny $3 bottles seasonally?

3. CoverGirl Bombshell Volume Mascara: I like to layer my mascaras for added length and volume, and this has 2 mascaras in one, taking the guesswork out of whether 2 mascaras will work well together. There's also a curling version of this mascara, I don't see a big difference between the two. They're both great!

4. CoverGirl Bombshell Intense Eye Liner: One of my favorite liquid liners, this one is really well pigmented and the felt tip pen is great at depositing the liner. It's right up there with much more expensive liquid liners.

5. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Balm (in Nourishing Nude): I frequently have at least 2 of these lightly tinted (and super hydrating) balms in my purse.

6. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum: This is one of those love it or hate it products, and I admit that I really love it! I apply with a small brush, it gives me a great glowy look and lasts all day. It reminds me a lot of Stila's Convertible Color.

7. L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain (in Lilac Ever After): I love that this is a gloss and a stain, Lilac Ever After is really a pretty neutral mauve/nude color just a bit darker than my lips. I think I'm on my 4th tube of the same shade.

8. Mark Hill MiracOILicious Argan Oil: A little bit of this oil goes a long way toward making my hair frizz free and shiny. It has a big margin of error, so it takes a TON to turn yourself into a grease ball. Love that!

9. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deeeeep Conditioner: I keep this in my shower at all times. It is super hydrating, smells good and only takes 3 minutes! The $3.99 price tag is a fraction of other similar deep conditioners.

10. Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash: I stock up on this body wash like you wouldn't believe! I usually have 3 or 4 back up bottles, I buy them at Sam's Club. It is very hydrating, has a great lather and won't leave my skin irritated.

An InLinkz Link-up

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Affiliate Links

12

Makeup Wars: My Favorite Nude Lippies

I Bought It Myself Affiliate Links



I've previously shared great nude lippies, but today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our favorites! I went through my pockets, purses and the top of my vanity to find the products, and shades, that I'm reaching for most often. Because my skin is so fair, I've found that I need to be really careful with light nude shades. Too light or too nude and I look ill. I usually need to add in a little bit of pink to give me a bit of color.

I'm often a drugstore makeup girl, but lately I've splurged a bit at Sephora. What nude lippies are you reaching for lately?

1. YSL Glossy Stain in 106 Beige Anarchist: The YSL Glossy Stains are a great formula and sometime in the last year or so they came out with beige-nude tones. I recommend picking out one that looks darker than your lip shade, they're pretty translucent.

2. NARS Lip Gloss in Belize: Super pretty mauve-pink-nude color, it should work for a lot of skin tones.

3. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain, Lilac Ever After 185 : I know this is often described as a purple, but it really isn't. I've repurchased this shade 3 times now I think? It is a bit mauve, a bit nude, and just deep enough to look like I have some color but not take over.

4. Maybelline Color Sensation Lipcolor Buffs, Nude Lust: These Maybelline lippies are really hard to find in stock, so I ordered this one on-line. I really like it, and I'm trying to ignore my urge to buy a few more shades.

5. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Balm, Caramel Comfort: Perfect for keeping in your pocket all the time!

6. YSL Rougé Volupte Shine in 10 Chocolate Instyle: It looks darker, but this is pretty translucent and comes across as just the perfect slightly darker than nude shade on my lips.

7. Maybelline ColorSensational Color Elixir Lip Color, Nude Illusion: The Maybelline liquid lips are a bit more pigmented than their L'Oreal cousins, I also like Caramel Infused.








I Bought It Myself Affiliate Links

14

Get the Look: Elizabeth from The White Queen

Nothing to Disclose


Have you seen the new television mini-series, The White Queen? It started airing on August 10th here in the US, though it's already almost completed in the UK. As usual, this amazing series was created by the people over at the BBC. It's based on the books by Philippa Gregory, mostly The White Queen, but also The Red Queen and The Kingmaker's Daughter.

I watched Episode 1 this weekend on my DVR, counted down the hours until episode 2 aired (it was less than 6 but I was not very patient) and now I'm debating about buying the DVD series from Amazon and probably all three books. I can tell you that watching Rebecca Ferguson play Elizabeth is definitely making the wait for the next season of Downton Abbey a bit easier!


One of the reasons that the series is so enjoyable is definitely watching Rebecca Ferguson. To say that she's beautiful seems to be an understatement. She's wearing very little makeup in the series, but what she does have seems to only emphasize her amazing skin and features. Not to mention her hair.... it really makes me regret my recent Bob (which I'm still getting used to), and wishing for about 3 feet of very voluminous extensions. It's almost enough to make a girl give up her giant makeup stash and recreate Rebecca's look every day.

I'll definitely be trying to emulate this no makeup but natural look on a few of my "down" days, here's what I think would work best to do it.

I couldn't find any images of Rebecca's hair at the beginning of episode one, but she has very long blonde hair with a bit of strawberry tint. Her hair is pulled back off of her face with small braids, and then tied (with what appears to be cords the same color as her hair, here I have 2 different Faux Leather Suede Necklace Cords, I'd use something similar in a color that blends in to your hair).

I'd recommend starting with Redken's Guts 10 to help add texture, volume and to hold the style. It's a spray that comes out as a white foam. I love it on my roots to add a little volume without teasing. Add it to wet hair, comb through and then blow dry. You need volume and texture, so don't worry about making things perfect here!

Once the hair is dry, it is crimped (yes, with a 1980's crimper) to add extra texture and volume (in case you didn't save your crimper from 30 years ago, they're selling them again! Bed Head Crimper). Once you have enough volume and texture, it's really a matter of playing around with how you want to pull back your hair. Add in small braids, twist sections, just make sure you have some volume and it falls nicely around your face.


Elizabeth's beauty is a real feature in the series, and they've tried to keep it fairly natural. Rebecca has amazing skin with freckles, and I love that they are really show cased. She is fair but her skin is a little bit sunkissed, to recreate this look I would use a light concealer like Maybelline's DreamLumi Touch, which has a bit of light diffusion in it as well. To get a light sunkissed look without looking powdery, try Stila's One Step Bronze, concentrating on places that the sun would hit you like your cheek bones, forehead, chin and nose.

Elizabeth has a very pretty flush, I would try a cream blush like Maybelline Bouncy Blush (Peach Satin) or Stila Convertible color (in Gerbera). Try to stay in the pinky-peach family, and concentrate the color on the apples of your cheeks. Pair it with a similar tone on your lips, a lip stain like Stila Yumberry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain would be a good match.

There was minimal makeup on Rebecca's eyes, but when she did have on shadow it appeared to be a very light wash of a matte light grey or a light brown-taupe. Try Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, Stila Smudge Pot in Gray or NARS Soft Touch Pencil in Goddess.

When she had on mascara it was on uncurled lashes, dark brown rather than black, and not a clump was in sight! I'd try CoverGirl's Clump Crusher mascara, which is formulated differently than other mascaras and has a specific distance between bristles to help prevent clumping.

Finally, a slightly defined eye brow was key to the look. I'd go for IT Cosmetics Your Brows But Better Brow Power Skinny Pencil, which has a slightly ashy tone and works with almost all hair colors.


Have you seen The White Queen? Am I the only one obsessing over this mini-series?

4

How to Avoid Looking Like a Slobbery Mess: My Tips for Allergies

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Myself

It seems like every year the pollen counts are just getting higher and higher, doesn't it? For me that means a few weeks dealing with a stuffy/runny nose and watery red eyes.

I've found a couple of fool proof ways to deal with this time of year. Read on to see what I use!

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A Busy Mommy's Makeup Kit for Under $75!

Nothing to Disclose


1. Revlon’s Kissable Balm Lip Stain $8
Need a lippie that takes very little time to apply and will last throughout the day? Say hello to Revlon’s Kissable Balm Lip Stain. love everything about this lip stain. It lasts forever and even if I need some added pigmentation I can toss it in my purse and then pull it out in a pinch.

2. Maybelline Fit ME Concealer $6
Okay so many mamas may not have time to apply foundation but Maybelline Fit ME Concealer can be pretty dynamite when used under the eyes. This comes in very handy when you’re like me and live with eternal bags under your eyes.

3. ecoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set $12
Okay mommy, no need to spend a ton of money on expensive brushes. Especially when some of the cheaper ones can do the same thing. I adore EcoTools’ Bamboo Brush set. It gives me just the right amount of brushes and these brushes are so unbelievably soft and durable.

4. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream $6
Don’t have time to put on foundation? Or want to have a nice primer for the skin? I’m a fan of this one. And I love that it comes in so many wonderful shades for mommies of all complexions.

5. L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara $6
I’m a mascara lover (obviously) and if I didn’t have to review so many I really would stick to the same ones. L’Oreal Voluminous would be one of ‘em. I just love how applying one coat can give me crazy volumized lashes!

6. Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo liner $7
Yes, girl. Yes. Eyeliner can really make those eyes pop and it’s important to use one that won’t budge after a few hours. This Maybelline eyeliner is some kind of awesome. Oh! And the best thing about it? It’s practically waterproof!

7. Kiss My Face Face & Neck Lotion $14
Yikes! Didn’t intend on spending that much time at the park with your little one? Next time you’ll need to pack the Kiss My Face SPF 50 Face & Neck Lotion. It’s fragrance-free and is the perfect travel-friendly size.

8. Milani Baked Blush $6
Wait! Where are you going, mama? Yes, you’re in a hurry but quickly toss some color on those cheeks. Milani’s Baked Blush is milled so finely that applying it is almost foolproof. Trust me, I know. I’ve applied in while sitting at a stop light.

9. Boscia Blotting Liners $10
Every mom deserves to not be shiny, these papers will take care of that problem quickly without leaving behind any powdery mess.

My friend Brittany from Clumps of Mascara was nice enough to share her favorite picks with me! I've been a fan of hers for years (look, I wrote about her crazy UDPP discovery way back in 2008!), and I'm so honored to call her my friend now. In addition to running her blog, she has a super adorable baby girl and works full time. If anyone knows how to get ready in a flash, it is this super hard working mama!

4

Shopper Files: $25 at ULTA

Nothing to Disclose

For the last few days I've been playing around shopping on ULTA's website. It's a long story, and really it's for some posts that blogging friends and I will be publishing in a few weeks, but we all had a small amount of money to spend at ULTA or Sephora and it was really somewhat fascinating to see what we were all putting in our carts. Some of us had the "I will buy as many items as possible for as cheap as possible" mentality, some wanted items they knew were amazing and had used before and some wanted more expensive items that they had been lusting after for a while.

Personally, I am usually the as many items as possible girl (and I started out that way) and then I discovered I could add in some Paypal money and I became the "I must spend more money and get all of the big shadow palettes I've wanted for the last year" girl. So, I spent a lot more money than I had.

Anyways, I thought it would be amusing to have a series of posts in which I show you what I'd put in a cart for some of my favorite on-line beauty stores, and using their current deals. I'm starting with ULTA, which this week has a lot of BOGO 50% off items (Revlon, NYX and Maybelline are included). I initially had a cart full of NYX items (over $100 of shadows, concealers, lippies) and eventually subtracted to get under $25 and there was no NYX left.

5

Teen Makeup: Great Product Picks from Cosmetically Challenged

Nothing to Disclose


Living with a skin disorder is hard, especially when it’s strategically placed on your right eye and you're married to a 6’3 250lb ex-football player! I constantly find myself saying, “Yes, everything is fine at home!” Now that I’m older I’m not as self-conscious about my skin disorder as I used to be. Before, I was all about not leaving the house without covering it up but, this period of low self esteem helped spiked my love for makeup and its amazing ability to transform you’re look with a flick of the wrist.

If you’re a teen dealing with a skin disorder and you’re looking to create a beauty kit on a budget I’ve shared with you my favorite correctors and concealers. I’ve also included some of my other favorite beauty items that will help you complete your entire look!

• Choose a corrector or a concealer. If you’re looking to cancel out redness a Green Toned Corrector works well. If you’re looking to conceal dark birthmarks or disorders try correctors or concealers that have salmon shades. Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Concealers work great just for this! $5.49

• Choose a foundation that will give you great coverage but not be too heavy. L’oreal True Match foundation comes in a range of shades and is great for all skin types! Choose a powder in the same shades to apply over your foundation to set it. $12.99

• Milani Baked Blush gives the option of a wonderfully pigmented blush with a bit of shimmer! $7.49

• Milani Runway Eyes and Baked Eye shadows give you a great array of colors that are super intense when applied wet! $7.99

• Maybelline The Rocket Mascara will really make your lashes take off! $7.99

• My favorite go to eyeliner is the Maybelline Ultra Liner. I love it because it’s waterproof and doesn’t smear. $5.10

• Maybelline Vivids and Color Whispers lipsticks are some of the hottest shades around. Be daring and go bright with the Vivids or tone it down with the Color Whispers. $7.49

• NYX has great range of inexpensive lip liners. You can find most of these at your local beauty supply store retailing for as little as $2.00 per pencil.


These are my number one go to beauty products for creating an amazing flawless yet simple look. Remember beauty is only in the eye of the beholder. If you feel fabulous then you are!


Melody is the blogger behind Cosmetically Challenged, and one of the beauty bloggers I talk to the most! She's an amazingly sweet person who also happens to be working on her PhD, working to save the world from Malaria! Her blog is definitely worth reading daily, her pictures will make you want to buy every Maybelline Vivid Lippie. I'm not kidding.

4

A Teen Starter Makeup Kit Under $75?

Product Sent for Review, , Affiliate Links


Recently, I got this email in my inbox:

I am a 14 year old girl. I currently wear some makeup, but I would like to find some better cosmetics and wear a little more.

Unfortunately, I don't know where to start. I can't go to my mom for help, because she is one of those people that never wears makeup, but when she does it is a very minimal amount of expensive Clinique foundation. I can't get help from my friends either, because their parents buy them very high-end and expensive makeup, which I can't afford.

So I'm looking to you for help. I'm a huge fan of your blog and I think that you might me able to help me. I'm looking for some makeup that I can buy myself. It doesn't need to be super cheap, just affordable. I'm looking to be able to create a natural, everyday look, and be able to get to a full face of makeup for nicer occasions. I would really like a foundation/BB cream/Tinted moisturizer, blush, bronzer, highlight, concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick/lip butter/lipgloss, and any needed tools. And maybe a few splurge-worthy items that are more expensive.

I have medium brown hair, grey-green eyes, and fair skin with an olive undertone. I also have a square face, hooded (but not Asian) eyes, and cheeks that are very round and look like they have no cheekbone. Near me, I have a Walgreens, Rite-Aid, CVS, and an Ulta. Farther away I have a Sephora. I would prefer to stay at about $75 or less in total, but it would be completely fine to be over that price.

I would really appreciate any products or advice you could give me. I truly am lost when it comes to makeup. I'd really appreciate it though if you could tell me an affordable eyeliner that doesn't smudge. I've had a lot of problems finding one.

Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this would mean to me.

So, I have to say that this challenge really excited me! I have this secret fantasy of helping all the girls in my life with their first makeup. I have no idea why, it just sounds like so much fun!

The author of this email (who asked to not be named, though let's just call her Karen to make it a bit easier), is right in the middle of that difficult period in which she wants to grow up and look older, but doing too much not only freaks out the parents, but it can just look...wrong. It's a really fine line to navigate, and if you go a bit overboard you'll become known as the girl that just tries too hard. That's definitely worse than having a more natural look that just accentuates your positives and makes you look pretty. Luckily Karen seems to realize that!

My ideal look for this age group is pretty minimal. You should wear as little face makeup as possible, often your skin is the envy of all the women around you, so covering it up isn't necessary and just looks too artificial. Keeping the shine down without looking like you are wearing a mask is pretty easy if you have the right products, and just adding a little color to lips and putting the emphasis on your eyes keeps your look age appropriate and pretty.

Here's a look at what my picks would be for Karen. Note that I'm just including prices (I priced things out at my local Target, but you can buy many of these items at drugstores and ULTA), not a total. I offered a few options for products in the pics, and there's more mentioned below.

23

Ask a Beauty Blogger: Cream Blush Picks for Fair Skin

I'm really loving cream blushes lately. They're great for creating a pretty and natural flushed look, but when layered they make your blush last for hours. Seriously, all day. I like to use a cream blush directly over my foundation, set it with powder, and then add a little more cream blush or a powder blush. The layering is key for a long lasting look.

Shannon recently asked for some cream blush picks for fair skin, so I enlisted the help of my friend Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty. She has fair skin similar to mine, and I knew that she'd have some great picks as well! I haven't tried any of the products she mentioned, so you know I'll be adding them to my shopping list!



New York Color Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink
NYX Stick Blush in Pink Poppy
Revlon Photoready Blush in Pinched



Like Pam, I like 2 forms of cream blushes. The stick form (the NARS Multiple) I usually swipe across my cheek and then blend a little with my fingers. A cream blush that comes from a palette like the Bouncy Blush I will apply with my finger tips or a brush. My favorite blush is a small round brush that I got in a Clinique gift with purchase years and years ago. The closest I've found is the Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush, which is a bit denser but has a the correct shape and is about the same size. The Juice Beauty Buki Brush looks about the same on the ULTA website, though I haven't seen it in person.

When picking blush colors, I tend to go for either a light pinky-rose color or a light peach. The NARS Orgasm shade is a combination of both of those, so it really works for pretty much any situation.


Do you have any other blush picks for Shannon?



Do you have a question you want me to feature? Be sure to ask!

8

A Quickie Light Eye Look: Lightening Up!

In the past, I was the boring eye shadow girl. I liked light, and light only. You couldn't really tell the difference between all of my shadows, though they were different to me. I often only used 1 or 2 shades, and almost always with just a little smudge of liner.

Over the past few years I've been trying to step up my game a little bit, but in large part that's meant adding more depth to my eye shadow. To the point where I'm wearing a smoky eye or dark-ish eye every day.

I decided it was time to mix it up and do something similar to the "old" me, a light eye and darker liner. I also mixed it up with a bright, summery lippie.

Read on to see what I used.

3

Maybelline Foam Foundation Review: Does the Foam Ensure a Smooth Application?

So, I bought this foaming foundation months ago. I've been too lazy/busy to write about it. Also, I kind of wondered if I was wrong about it and I should try it again? So, the truth is that I hate this stuff.


The basic idea is that the foundation foams up and is light and frothy, so when you apply it the application is light and easy to blend around, looking perfect in the end. It comes out of the can fairly quickly and it has a strange spongy/foamy texture. I thought you needed to see it to believe it, so I made you a little video.


The problem is the color of the foundation. I often can wear Classic Ivory in Maybelline products, but shortly after it comes out of the can the color changes from what looks appropriate for Classic Ivory to something much more... Oompa Loompa. Seriously, it is orange. The pics above are about 20 seconds apart. I fully admit I touched it to show the formula a bit (hence the dent in pic #3), though the video does a better job of that.

So, while it does do a good job of create a smooth look and, for me it only looks good for a very short period of time.

Stay clear of this product, the color match will be horrible.



Maybelline

8

Maybelline Bouncy Blush Review: A Different Take on the Cream Blush

Have you seen these new Maybelline blushes at your local store yet? They're being reviewed favorably all over the beauty blogs, and I've been drawn to the display every time I see it. Usually, it is about half sold out, only bright pinks are left. While I can make a bright pink work, I was hoping for a slightly more subdued color, so when I finally found a Pink Plum on the display, I pounced.

Basically, this is a creme blush. It doesn't feel very creamy in the compact, it's a bit harder (more like a NARS Multiple) when you touch it, though it does feel a bit springy. It's really something you need to experience for yourself.

I've found that it is easiest to use your fingers for application, just spread a little on the apples of your cheeks and then lightly blend outward.

It gives a great glow, really very pretty. I've found that the color stays pretty much all day.

I'm really loving the Pink Plum color, it looks like it would work for many skin tones. It has worked really well with my light coloring, a slightly pinker version of Orgasm by NARS.


Maybelline

3

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara Review: Add Length Like Crazy!

I'm a fan of adding length with mascara, but when I have to be careful which pair of glasses I wear with a mascara... You know a lot of length was added! Meet the new Maybelline mascara that can only be used with my Coach glasses.

I recently featured a L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes review, and I was sure that this Maybelline would simply be big sister's mascara in a new tube. But, I was wrong!

I seriously love this mascara, even though it seems to fall a tad flat after the 12 hour mark. First, it is not goopy coming out of the tube, which is unique for a fiber filled mascara. When applying, my lashes immediately just pop. The new length and added volume are immediately apparent. Best of all- it doesn't clump on itself! I can apply 2 coats without issues. I don't need to use a lash brush either.

And these things really are so long with this mascara that I can't wear my new glasses. The lashes brush against the inside of the lenses and leave little smudges behind. They drive me crazy.

After about 12 hours my length and volume have gone down (the pic above was at 14 hours, it was a very long and not fun day at work so I'm a bit scary looking), but there are no flakes or smudges in sight!

Maybelline

11

Maybelline Lots of Lashes: Yet Another Re-Do?

Pretty recently, I shared with you a little review of Maybelline Great Lash Big Edition. It was a dramatic improvement over the original, much touted version. Maybelline released not 1, but 2 new versions of Great Lash this fall. This second version is actually quite a bit different than the Big Edition. The main difference is obviously the brush: nylon bristles versus molded plastic. But, I believe (at least based on what I've read, I don't have confirmation from Maybelline) that the actual mascara formula is basically the same for all 3 versions.

The Lots of Lashes advantage is that the bristles do a great job of keeping the lashes separated and not clumpy. I do have a bit of a hard time getting great volume and length, simply because the bristles seem to put very thin layers of mascara on to lashes. I really have to push quite a bit to get the mascara on to my lashes. Once I've gotten it there, I have good volume and length. It lasts all day (though there is a bit of volume loss), without any flaking or smudging issues.

I've had great success with this mascara as a second layer of mascara. Apply a volumizing mascara, which might have clumping issues, and rather than using my mascara brush to pull things apart I pull out this mascara. The brush does a great job of separating things back out. I usually curl, apply my 1st mascara and before it has a chance to dry. Then I move on to my other eye.

What do you think? Are there any mascaras that you save for layering?

Maybelline Lots of Lashes

4

Lippie Love: Maybelline's Warm Me Up, A Perfect Neutral Lippie for Me

This was a great $5 investment! This lipstick lasts about 5-6 hours, despite constant coffee drinking (I might have a problem). It isn't quite as moisturizing as a balm, but it is close. And it is a great pinky-nude color that is a great neutral go-to color. If you need a shade like that, head to your local drugstore or big box store!

Maybelline

1

Maybelline Great Lash, Big Edition: Does Great Lash Finally Live Up to the Hype?

Back in 1991 when Allure magazine was launched, I was just about to start high school and my obsession with beauty products was just beginning. I would pore over every issue, coveting products and buying pretty much anything and everything I could afford with my meager babysitting and candy store salaries (I was the girl that made fudge at the candy store. I swear I couldn't smell chocolate for years I was so desensitized).

So, I swear to you that Maybelline Great Lash was probably mentioned in about 75% of Allure's issues back in the early 1990s. There was always a makeup artist in there somewhere raving about it. They loved the stuff. I had no idea why. I would buy a tube, try it out... and... blah. Just, blah. My lashes weren't long. They weren't volumized. Finally I found out why the makeup artists loved it so much. It was a bit thinner than many other mascaras, so it was great for applying over another mascara. And since models were always running late from their previous runway show.... it was perfect. But for me, wanting amazing lashes for school? Not so much.

I haven't used Great Lash since then. I frequently call it the most over rated mascara on the market. But, I think that my feelings might be changing. Because they've come out with 2 new versions of Great Lash, and they're both much better!

This is the "Big" version. The formula is different than the original Great Lash, they call it Volumizing though it still has the same no smudging/flaking benefits. I think the real change is the brush. Gone is the little spindly brush that didn't really work well for me. This new brush is larger, picks up all of your lashes though it doesn't allow them to clump together. The right amount of mascara is very easy to apply, and really there are no issues with clumps.

I think overall this mascara gives some length and curl, but mostly it is a great volumizer. The results are still natural looking, but I definitely had much more volume. The results lasted throughout the day.

Maybelline Great Lash

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Maybelline Falsies Flared Review

Am I the only on that feels like Maybelline keeps releasing slight variations on the same mascara? They all have the same name, this one just has flared added to the name? I'm honestly not sure why they do that, since the mascaras all have very different brushes. I think they need a bit of help in the creativity department!

This new iteration of Volum' Express mascara promises to add volume by picking up every single little lash. The brush is a bit flexible, the wand is curved and has the nylon bristles (rather than molded plastic) that many of us are used to using.


I think my picture doesn't exactly do this mascara justice. In reality, there is a bit more volume in this mascara. It can be a bit difficult to apply, I really felt like the flexibility in the brush made me have to work to push the mascara onto my lashes. The brush kept flexing when I was trying to apply, really the flexibility seemed to work against me.

However, I do think this mascara offered good volume, some increase in length, and it held my curl all day. No issues with clumping, flaking or problems with removal.

Maybelline Volume Express

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Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

I bought this foundation months, and months and months ago. Like, the day the display appeared at my local big box store. I keep trying it out, trying to figure out if I like it or not. I truthfully haven't decided yet.

Finding the exact right shade is not quite as easy as it seems. Phyrra found #110 too pink for her fair complexion while Pammy thought the #115 was a bit too orange, #110 was better for her. My complexion is usually closer to Pammy's, though I'm tone-wise a bit closer to Phyrra. I tried out #115, which was a good fit for my overall paleness, but definitely too pink for me. Us super pale girls, we're not just a dime a dozen. Oh no, we come in many different shades of pale, and it appears that finding just the right shade, even in a product line with many pale shades, is difficult. I wish the shades were neutral, yellow based tones or were labelled warm/cool, similar to Maybelline's sister L'Oreal does for their True Match line.

I fully admit that most tinted moisturizers aren't quite moisturizing enough for my dry cheeks, nor do they usually contain the sunscreen I want. I don't want to put tinted moisturizer everywhere, only certain areas. So, I tend to cheat and use it over a sunscreen lotion usually. Sometimes this makes things a bit too hydrating and hard to blend in correctly since I'm basically applying moisturizer over moisturizer.

Fit Me is definitely a light coverage foundation, with a somewhat dewy finish. I found it to be close to a tinted moisturizer in terms of coverage, so for me this is a tinted moisturizer alternative. I apply it over my sunscreen lotion, allowing plenty of time for the lotion to sink in. Fit Me seems to be somewhat picky about blending, as any lotion residue really prevents it from blending easily. I also found that any foundation brushes should stay far away as they just encourage streaking, instead use your fingers and a makeup sponge. The foundation can be layered for slightly more coverage, but I couldn't get close to a medium coverage no matter what I did.

I found that the foundation lasts on me for about 6-8 hours, if I've applied extra for increased coverage I'll have areas of caking as well. I do like that the coverage is light, so it's great for the summer, but not an all day foundation for me.


Fit Me Foundation has SPF 18.



Maybelline

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